Rest in peace, Rosey[April 7th, 1970 - April 17th, 2017]

Reports have surfaced that former WWE World Tag Team Champion Rosey, real name Matt Anoai, has passed away. He was 47.

Rosey competed for the WWE from 2001 until 2006, starting in developmental as one half of The Island Boys with his partner who would later be known as Jamal (who would even later be known as Umaga). The two debuted in the WWE as 3 Minute Warning, monstrous henchman for Eric Bischoff who would tire of segments and send in Rosey and Jamal to bring them to a violent abrupt ending.

When Jamal was released from the WWE, Rosey began teaming with The Hurricane in a comical but successful duo, where he morphed from being a Super Hero In Training (note the acronym) to being The Hurricane’s super sidekick! The two captured the WWE World Tag Team Championships at Backlash in 2005.

Outside the ring, Rosey was well-liked by his peers and has been mourned greatly by superstars from the WWE and in the greater Cincinnati area, where he teamed with Jamal in HWA. Rosey was the son of WWE Hall Of Famer Sika, the brother of WWE superstar Roman Reigns, and was the father of three children as well as the owner of a restaurant in Mason, Ohio. I had the pleasure of meeting Rosey several times, the most memorable of which being in 2005 shortly after he and The Hurricane won the tag titles. I recall telling him that I’d marked out for the occasion, to which Rosey said, “So did I!”

Rest in peace, Matt Anoai. You were beloved by so many, and I’m sure you’ll never be forgotten.